In the last provincial and federal elections, more people voted against the ruling parties than for them. As well, the turnout to vote was appallingly dismal. Because of these lackadaisical mandates, neither the B.C. or federal governments truly represent the will of the people when it comes to making irreversible decisions on the state of our children’s health and future.
Deciding whether or not to allow tar sands pipelines across our forests and streams and bitumen tankers through our fishery and along our coast goes beyond the scope of the current B.C. and federal governments’ mandates.
Not only can the pipelines and tankers have lasting detrimental effects on our economy, environment and therefore our own children’s quality or standard of life, but because burning up the tar sands greatly worsens climate change, they will directly reduce the survivability of the human race. Clearly a defining issue such as the existence of future generations requires a little more scrutiny than a passing mention in a personality based general election.
It is only fair that the people of B.C. have a direct voice in the pipeline/tanker decision. Premier Clark said in October 2012, “This project can only go ahead if it has the social license to do so. It can only get the social license from the citizens of B.C. And that’s what I’m representing as premier.”
When 64 per cent of British Columbians are against pipelines and tankers and an even greater 79 per cent say they want to take part in that decision, it’s obvious that Christy Clark does not have our consent.
The Dogwood Initiative’s Let B.C. Vote campaign gives us all an opportunity to have a direct say on this decision by allowing us to pledge to support a referendum on tar sands pipelines and tankers.
By going to letbcvote.ca and pledging to sign an upcoming citizen’s initiative, we can all take a step to show our provincial government that each of us has the right to decide on our children’s and grandchildren’s future.
Korry Zepik
Vernon
